Automated Shape Adjustment of Interlocking Joints for Structurally Informed Design of Masonry Block Assemblages

This paper introduces a tool to design structurally informed assemblages of interlocking blocks. First, the static problem of limit analysis is extended to assemblages with openings and a running bond pattern. Then, a method to measure the assemblage infeasibility due to the sliding resistance violation (namely sliding infeasibility) is described. An optimization procedure is finally presented to minimise the measured sliding infeasibility by automatically changing the shape of interlocking joints.